Between welcoming incoming guests, shopping for gifts, and planning holiday menus, it can be hard to find time to treat yourself. Among other things, the holiday season is about food, and luckily the Twin Cities offers a myriad of holiday events that are bound to please food lovers of all ages. Whether you’re a Christmas traditionalist or a holiday skeptic, there’s bound to be an event on this list that satisfies your sweet tooth or quenches your thirst.
Dec. 23: Festivus Party at Wander North Distillery: Seinfeld brought this fake holiday into the lexicon, and now Wander North is making it a reality. Complete with the traditional aluminum pole and optional airing of grievances, the brewery will supply a few on-theme cocktails for the occasion. The food provider for the event is yet to be announced. If more traditional holiday functions make you cringe, then embrace your darker side at this unconventional affair. (7-9 p.m., Wander North Distillery, 771 Harding St. NE, Ste 150, Minneapolis, facebook.com)
Dec. 23: Holiday Pop-Up Bakery at Restaurant Alma: Known for its local, organic ingredients and rustic architecture, the casual fine dining restaurant and its upcoming adjoining café brings back this pop-up bakery for another holiday season. Featuring candy, fresh pastries, bread, cookies, and the obligatory fruitcake, the makeshift bake sale should fulfill all of your Christmas baked good needs. The bakery will provide mulled wine and hot chocolate to sip while you shop. (3-7 p.m., 528 University Ave., Minneapolis, facebook.com)
Dec. 23: Carols and Barrels Christmas Sing-a-Long at Able Seedhouse: If you feel like caroling but not venturing outside into the cold, Able Seedhouse & Brewery is hosting a first annual indoor holiday sing-a-long for the whole family. Guests are welcome to either sing or watch, and a portion of the proceeds from beer sold at the event will go toward funding a local elementary school music program. (7 p.m., 1121 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis, facebook.com)
Dec. 26-Jan. 3: Bloody Mary Week at Hell’s Kitchen: The Minneapolis restaurant created a 35 foot long Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar last November, but during Bloody Mary Week they’ll up the their ante by offering free crab legs and extending brunch hours. (Brunch, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Bloody/Mimosa Bar open 9 a.m.-2 p.m, 80 S. Ninth St., Minneapolis, hellskitcheninc.com)
Dec. 31: Feliz Año Nuevo at Rosa Mexicano Minneapolis: Ring in the new year at Rosa Mexicano for its four-course prix fixe meal. The meal includes Rosa Mexicano’s famous guacamole, prepared tableside; Lobster or Short Rib Flautas; Tres Leches Cake; and sparkling Margaritas. Open bar packages will be available for $25/person, and the four-course meal is $30/person. (609 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, rosamexicano.com)
Jan. 1: New Year’s Yoga and Yummies: Work off your New Year’s Eve buzz and get going on your new year’s resolution with a class at Fusion Yoga. The class will be followed by a treat of complimentary mimosas, coffee and donuts. Space is limited, so act now to secure a spot. Fusion Yoga seeks to facilitate a fusion between the mind and the body, which sounds like a perfect state in which to start off 2016. (9:30-11:30 a.m., 1012 Diffley Rd. Ste 600, Eagan; reserve a spot at facebook.com)
